NewFest, NYC's LGBT Film Festival, Announces LineUp

New York, NY (September 14, 2016) - NewFest today announced the lineup of their 28th annual celebration of the year's best LGBT films from around the world. The festival's largest program to-date features over 100 narrative features, documentaries, and shorts that shine a light on the LGBT experience. Programmed in partnership with Outfest, the festival runs October 20-25 at the Cin�polis Chelsea Cinemas, the SVA Theatre, and at the screening room at The LGBT Community Center in New York City. The festival is presented by HBO.

"Coming off the tragedy in Orlando and leading into an election where so much is at stake, now is an important time for our community and straight allies to come together to share and celebrate universal LGBT stories," said Executive Director Robert Kushner. "Cinema is an immersive experience that conveys perspective and opens minds, and it's my sincere belief that this year's films, conversations, and events will speak to the hearts and minds of all."

Opening Night will see the North American Premiere of the highly anticipated and acclaimed feature debut film by Ben A. Williams, "THE PASS," adapted by John Donnelly from his 2014 Royal Court stage play. Featuring a stunning performance by "LOOKING"'s Russell Tovey (who originated the role on stage) as a repressed soccer player grappling with issues of fame and sexuality, it's an intense, powerful film that remains frustratingly relevant. Called "a knockout showcase for Russell Tovey" with "a topical urgency" by Variety, the film is certain to engender much post-screening conversation with the filmmakers and stars of the film, who are scheduled to appear in person. The Opening Night after-party for "THE PASS" ticket holders and VIPs will follow the screening.

The discussion about the intersection of Sports and the LGBT Experience continues with Poppy Stockwell's "SCRUM," a documentary following three members of the Sydney Convicts, a predominantly gay rugby team, as they prepare to compete in the prestigious Bingham Cup. The first screening of "SCRUM" will be followed by an extended panel presented in partnership with Athlete Ally about LGBT inclusivity in sports, current obstacles, and how coaches play a role in maintaining team sportsmanship.

Closing out the festival on the 25th is So Yong Kim's tender, poetic "LIVELONG," starring Riley Keough and Jena Malone, both giving beautifully understated performances as two young women with an intense, indefinable connection. A bittersweet, elliptical love story about self-discovery, muted desire, and the gray area between platonic and romantic, The Hollywood Reporter called the film "a delicate heartbreaker" and "an insightful and superbly acted study of ambiguous love."

This year's Legacy Centerpiece is a must see for anyone who seeks a full understanding of LGBT film history. Produced in Germany in 1919 and co-written by famed sexologist and pioneering LGBT activist Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, "DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS" is cinema's oldest existing depiction of gay life. Initially banned by censors and burned by the Nazis, it will be presented on 35mm film with piano accompaniment by Steve Sterner. The print involved a six-year restoration process by the Outfest UCLA Legacy Project, a partnership between Outfest and the UCLA Film & Television Archive, resulting in the most complete and accurate version since its release almost a century ago. The film offers a sympathetic and devastating look at gay life in Germany under Paragraph 175 (the law criminalizing homosexuality), depicting a virtuoso violinist who falls in love with a male student and is forced to out himself and face the social and legal consequences. Following the screening will be an extensive panel discussion on the history and restoration of this landmark film that is not to be missed. The panel will be moderated by Outfest Executive Director Christopher Racster; Panelists include Ashley Swinnerton from MoMA and filmmaker Bob Hawke, plus more to be announced.

This year, NewFest features their most significant and diverse programming of International Films yet. Some highlights include Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau's lyrical and erotic real-time love story "PARIS 05:59: THEO & HUGO" (France); Pepa San Mart�n's debut feature and Berlinale Grand Jury Prize winner "RARA," a touching family drama based on a true story about two young sisters being raised by lesbian parents (Chile); Papu Curotto's romantic reunion of childhood friends "ESTERS" (Argentina); the outrageous tale of an 11-year-old boy coming to grips with his changing body, described as Walt Disney meets David Lynch, "BABY BUMP" (Poland); the ensemble dramedy of women who face discrimination and harassment with courage and humor, "ANGRY INDIAN GODDESSES" (India). Especially notable following this summer's Rio Olympics are a trifecta of films from Brazil: "THE CULT," set in 2040 when all but the most disaffected has abandoned the earth; "THE NEST," a soldier's exploration of a sexually free LGBTQ social scene while on leave; and "DON'T CALL ME SON," following a young man who discovers that the woman he knows as his mother kidnapped him when he was a child.


U.S. Narrative highlights this year include the New York premiere of Nathan Adloff's "MILES," the winner of the U.S. Narrative Audience Award at this year's Outfest, starring Molly Shannon; Carly Usdin's darkly comic farce "SUICIDE KALE," the winner of the Audience Award for Best First Feature at Outfest; Michael Curtis Johnson's "HUNKY DORY," which features a breakthrough performance from Tomas Pais as a hard-partying, bisexual glam rock drag performer whose life takes a sharp turn when his ex unexpectedly drops their 11-year-old son Georgie off for the week. John Carchietta's intoxicating coming-of-age tale of webcams, blackmail, and mayhem, "TEENAGE COCKTAIL"; Ingrid Jungermann's dark comedy of manners "WOMEN WHO KILL," which won the Best Screenplay Award at both the Tribeca Film Festival and OutFest; the Frameline Audience Award winner PUSHING DEAD, Tom E. Brown's dark comedy about the challenges faced by those living with HIV, starring James Roday, Danny Glover, and Robin Weigert.

The festival's Special Centerpiece Presentation includes The HBO Documentary Film "THE TRANS LIST," directed by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders and featuring interviews by trans author and advocate Janet Mock, and explores the experiences of Americans who identify as transgender. This film allows a diverse group of individuals to tell their stories in their own words, addressing identity, family, career, love, struggle and accomplishment.

A nominee for this year's GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Digital Journalism, the emotionally-charged documentary from director Clay Cane and BET.com, "HOLLER IF YOU HEAR ME: BLACK AND GAY IN THE CHURCH," dives into one of the most taboo topics in the black community: How to reconcile your faith and your orientation when the Black Church continues to condemn the queer community through literal interpretations of the Bible. This complex subject will be discussed during an extended panel discussion following the screening.

Powerful documentaries also screening at the festival this year include the ever timely "FORBIDDEN: UNDOCUMENTED & QUEER IN RURAL AMERICA," Moises Serrano's story of advocacy for justice and equality in the deep South as an undocumented gay man; "PLAZA DE LA SOLEDAD," the first-hand stories of aging sex workers in Mexico; "FREE CECE!," an examination of the culture of violence that trans women, specifically trans women of color, face; "RAISING ZOEY," a profile of one of Los Angeles' bravest and youngest trans rights activists; and "POLITICAL ANIMALS," an unflinching look into the difficult early days of LGBTQ advocacy through the lens of four tenacious female elected individuals.

Outfest Director of Programming, Lucy Mukerjee-Brown commented: "To me, the strength of NewFest this year is the diversity of the program that speaks to New Yorkers and their experience in the climate of our times. From the nuances of the trans identity, being gay in the African-American Christian church, the state of immigration as it relates to our undocumented LGBT brothers and sisters, to the historic depiction of homophobia in Different from the Others, this year's festival captures the prism of LGBT experience and demands we watch, listen and talk about it."

"The LGBT community has no social, racial, economic, or geographic boundaries, and I'm very proud that NewFest's 2016 slate represents the full scope of the LGBT experience," said Operations Manager and Programming Coordinator Nick McCarthy. "Global representation this year is stronger than ever and our narratives, shorts and docs address the hopes, concerns, and interpersonal relationships that make our diverse community so special both at home and abroad."

The festival will amplify their fruitful partnership with New York's LGBT Community Center this year, hosting simultaneous screenings and panels there throughout the festival. One of the events that will take place at The LGBT Community Center is a Queer Webseries screening and panel, which is new to the festival. The event will see the premiere of new episodes of your favorite queer webseries, including Brian Jordan Alvarez's witty "The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo: Episode 4," CockyBoys' "Meet The Morecocks: That's Levi," and the Season 3 festival premiere of YouTube sensation "Carmilla," as well as Amy York Rubin's comedy "Boxed In" and the premiere of episode two of new lesbian webseries "SCISSR." The screening will be followed by a panel discussion centered on the role that LGBTQ digital content is playing in the current media landscape.

One of NewFest's special events being offered will be an all-encompassing Pitching Master Class with Dani Faith Leonard & Alex Cirillo, the founders of film and media incubator Big Vision Empty Wallet. The duo will present important pitching tips and key practices for artists and creators who are ready to bring their projects to fruition and want to make a living creating their work. Participants in the workshop will be invited to participate in a live pitch session where they'll receive individualized feedback about their existing projects (both films and series).

There will also be an interactive acting panel discussion and workshop presented by SAG-AFTRA and led by entertainment industry professionals, highlighting the tools LGBTQ actors need to promote and sustain their careers in TV and film. P anelists will also discuss their upcoming project "STONE BUTCH BLUES," the highly anticipated upcoming adaptation of Leslie Feinberg's celebrated novel of the same name. Attendees of this exclusive panel will be able to workshop scenes from the "STONE BUTCH BLUES" screenplay. Panelists include Rosie Haber, the screenwriter and co-producer of "STONE BUTCH BLUES" and an AFI Directing Workshop for Women fellow; Brad Calcaterra, Consulting Producer of "STONE BUTCH BLUES" and Creative Director/Acting Coach at The Studio Act; Jelayne Miles, Entertainment Executive at 11B Productions and Producer of "STONE BUTCH BLUES." And more special guests to be announced!

Some notable faces and names in this year's festival films include:
Russell Tovey, Riley Keough, Jena Malone, Molly Shannon, Laverne Cox, Caitlyn Jenner, Missi Pyle, Stephen Root, Paul Reiser, Danny Glover, James Roday, Robin Weigert, Amy Seimetz, Annette O'Toole, Brooklyn Decker, Rosanna Arquette, Tami Sagher, Laura Spencer, Beth Grant, Deborah Rush, Sheila Vand, Malcolm Gets, Buck Angel, and many more!

Tickets for NewFest will go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, September 27. A pre-sale to NewFest Members begins on September 20 for Platinum Members and above and September 22 for all NewFest Members. Opening and Closing Night tickets, which include an after-party as well as the screening, are $60 and $50 respectively; $50 and $40 for NewFest Members. The Legacy Centerpiece Film is $20; $16 for NewFest Members. For all other screenings, tickets are $16; $12 for NewFest Members. Visit www.NewFest.org for details as well as complete film festival information.